Communicative Disorder courses

About Communicative Disorders Assistant (graduate Certificate) in Durham College

Communicative disorders assistants, under the guidance of speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists, help implement effective treatment plans that will assist people of all ages to communicate more effectively.

This graduate certificate program is designed for students with previous education and/or relevant experience (please see the entrance requirements section of this page for more details).

Communicative disorders assistants (CDAs), under the guidance of qualified speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists, play a variety of roles including providing speech and language therapy to children and adults in addition to carrying out speech/language screenings and hearing screenings and assessments.

Durham College’s program, which is recognized by the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada (CDAAC), Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) and the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA), will enable you to obtain the knowledge, skills, confidence and credentials needed to deliver a wide range of communication services to clients of all ages with speech, language and/or hearing disorders.

We provide you with a thorough understanding of physiological and functional speech/language and hearing disorders and the development of essential programming skills and communication intervention techniques  as we prepare you for a rewarding career in the field of communicative disorders and teach you the most current and effective therapy techniques.

Our faculty members are dedicated speech-language pathologists, audiologists and CDAs with many years of clinical experience in communicative disorders. They foster student learning through:

• Classroom-based and online learning
• Clinical observations before placement begins
• Technology-assisted learning
• Dynamic guest speakers
• Practical lab activities
• Specialized workshops and field trips

You will practice your skills in our dedicated CDA classroom, clinical resource library and speech-language/AAC and audiology lab, which is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and clinical resources that allows students to hone their clinical and professional skills.

Students gain practical clinical experience throughout the academic year with the opportunity to participate in our on-campus DC Kids Speech and Language Clinic and Hearing Screening Clinic. Our on-site community speech and language clinic, in partnership with Grandview Children’s Centre, provides assessments and intervention to clients from preschool-age to high school. Under the supervision of our registered Speech-language Pathologist, students participate in assessments, assist in the development of treatment plans and provide therapy to a wide range of clients.

The program also includes two clinical field placements in the second semester, totalling over 500 hours, often leading to full-time positions after graduation.

Academic qualification equivalents

• A university degree in a related subject.

English language requirements (one of the below):

• Academic IELTS: 6.5, no band score less than 6.0
• IBT TOEFL: 88, with minimum section scores of 22
• PTE Academic: 60 minimum overall, no section below 57 L,W,S,R

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